Mayo doctor says new migraine treatments appear promising
Apr 25, 2014, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:00 am
PHOENIX — Two treatments are showing some promise in helping those who suffer from migraine headaches.
For the last 20 years, doctors have known of a protein that plays an important role in the formation of migraines, but now, there may be some good news.
“A couple of antibodies have been developed against that particular protein,” said Dr. David Dodick, neurology professor at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. “These antibodies are delivered, one intravenously and one subcutaneously, like an insulin injection.”
A three-month study showed that migraine sufferers receiving the treatments saw as much as a 62 percent drop in the number of migraine headache days per month.
Dodick was excited about what this means for present and future patients.
“For the first time, actually, we’re entering a new era where we’re having migraine drugs that can actually prevent the attacks, and they’re designed specifically to treat the migraine,” said Dodick.
Right now, migraines are treated with drugs that are designed to help patients with epilepsy and other disorders.
Dodick said more testing is needed, but the new migraine treatments could be available to the public in about two years. The findings of two studies on the treatments will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, which is set for April 26 through May 3 in Philadelphia.
